Cable suspended pumping system

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a cable suspended pumping system. In one embodiment, a method of producing fluid from a reservoir includes deploying a pumping system into a wellbore to a location proximate the reservoir using a cable. The pump assembly includes a motor, an isolation device, a pump, and a power conversion module (PCM). The method further includes setting the isolation device, thereby rotationally fixing the pumping system to a tubular string disposed in the wellbore and isolating an inlet of the pump from an outlet of the pump; supplying a DC power signal from the surface to the PCM via the cable; and supplying a second power signal to the motor, thereby operating the pump and pumping reservoir fluid from the reservoir to the surface.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of producing fluid from a reservoir, comprising:
 deploying a downhole assembly of a pumping system into a wellbore to a location proximate the reservoir using a cable, wherein:
 the cable has one or more layers of high strength metal or alloy armor capable of supporting a deployment weight of the downhole assembly of at least 2,000 pounds, 
 the cable has two or less conductors, 
 the conductors are made from aluminum, copper, or an alloy thereof, 
 the downhole assembly comprises a motor, an isolation device, a pump, and a power conversion module (PCM), and 
 the isolation device has an expandable seal and an anchor; 
 
 setting the isolation device, thereby rotationally fixing the downhole assembly to a tubular string disposed in the wellbore and isolating an inlet of the pump from an outlet of the pump; 
 supplying a direct current (DC) power signal from surface to the PCM via the cable; and 
 after setting the isolation device, supplying a second power signal from the PCM to the motor, thereby starting and operating the pump and pumping reservoir fluid from the reservoir to the surface, 
 wherein:
 the downhole assembly further comprises a sensor, and 
 the method further comprises transmitting a measurement by the sensor to the surface via the cable. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising unsetting the isolation device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the isolation device is unset by sending a signal via the cable from a surface controller. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the isolation device is unset by exerting tension on the cable. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising moving the downhole assembly to a second location in the wellbore using the cable; and resetting the isolation device. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising removing the downhole assembly from the wellbore using the cable. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising controlling a speed of the motor. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is selected from a group, consisting of:
 a pressure sensor in communication with the pump outlet, 
 a temperature sensor in communication with the PCM, 
 a vibration sensor in communication with the pump, and 
 a flow meter in communication with the pump outlet. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the PCM converts the DC power signal into an AC power signal and the second signal is the AC power signal. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the AC power signal is three phase. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the DC power signal is substantially greater than one kilovolt and the AC signal is substantially greater than one kilovolt. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular string is a casing string cemented to the wellbore and the reservoir fluid is pumped to the surface via a bore of the casing string. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the isolation device is set by sending a signal via the cable. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the isolation device longitudinally fixes the downhole assembly to the tubular string, thereby supporting a weight of the downhole assembly. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cable is coaxial comprising the two conductors, the DC power signal is supplied via the conductors, and a data signal is multiplexed with the DC power signal. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the DC power signal is substantially greater than one kilovolt and the AC signal is less than or equal to one kilovolt. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second power signal is three phase, 
 the motor is induction or switched reluctance, and 
 the pump is centrifugal. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pump is multi-stage. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the high strength metal or alloy is steel or nickel alloy. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deployment weight is at least 10,000 pounds. 
     
     
       21. A pumping system, comprising:
 a submersible electric motor operable to rotate a drive shaft; 
 a pump rotationally fixed to the drive shaft; 
 an isolation device having an expandable seal and an anchor and operable to expand into engagement with a casing string, thereby fluidly isolating an inlet of the pump from an outlet of the pump and rotationally fixing the motor and the pump to the casing string; 
 an actuator for expanding the isolation device independently of the pump; 
 a cable having two or less conductors made from aluminum, copper, or an alloy thereof and one or more layers of high strength metal or alloy armor having a strength sufficient to support a deployment weight of the cable, the motor, the pump, the actuator, the isolation device, and a power conversion module (PCM), 
 wherein the deployment weight is at least 2,000 pounds; and 
 the PCM operable to receive a DC power signal from the cable conductors, and supply a second power signal to the motor, 
 wherein:
 the pumping system further comprises a sensor, and 
 a device operable to send a measurement from the sensor along the cable. 
 
 
     
     
       22. The pumping system of  claim 21 , wherein the PCM is further operable to convert the DC power signal to an AC power signal and the second power signal is the AC power signal. 
     
     
       23. The pumping system of  claim 22 , wherein the AC power signal is three-phase. 
     
     
       24. The pumping system of  claim 22 , wherein the DC signal is substantially greater than one kilovolt and the AC signal is substantially greater than one kilovolt. 
     
     
       25. The pumping system of  claim 21 , wherein the PCM is further operable to vary a speed of the motor. 
     
     
       26. The pumping system of  claim 21 , wherein the actuator comprises an inflation tool for setting the isolation device. 
     
     
       27. The pumping system of  claim 26 , wherein the inflation tool is an electric pump. 
     
     
       28. The pumping system of  claim 21 , wherein the sensor is selected from a group, consisting of:
 a pressure sensor in communication with the pump outlet, 
 a temperature sensor in communication with the PCM, 
 a vibration sensor in communication with the pump, and 
 a flow meter in communication with the pump outlet. 
 
     
     
       29. The pumping system of  claim 21 , wherein the isolation device is further operable to support the weight of the motor, the pump, the isolation device, actuator, and the PCM. 
     
     
       30. The pumping system of  claim 21 , wherein the isolation tool is operable to be reset without removal from the casing string. 
     
     
       31. The pumping system of  claim 21 , wherein the cable is coaxial comprising the two conductors and the PCM is further operable to demultiplex a data signal from the two conductors. 
     
     
       32. The pumping system of  claim 22 , wherein the DC signal is substantially greater than one kilovolt and the AC signal is less than or equal to one kilovolt. 
     
     
       33. The pumping system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the second power signal is three phase, 
 the motor is induction or switched reluctance, and 
 the pump is centrifugal. 
 
     
     
       34. The pumping system of  claim 33 , wherein the pump is Multi-stage. 
     
     
       35. The pumping system of  claim 21 , wherein the high strength metal or alloy is steel or nickel alloy. 
     
     
       36. The pumping system of  claim 21 , wherein the deployment weight is at least 10,000 pounds.